Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/OTTAWA: Canada has confirmed to purchase 88 US F-35 fighter jets to replace its aging fleet for 19 billion Canadian dollars, the largest investment in 30 years.
The order was announced last March 2022 by Ottawa.
US F-35
According to the AFP, Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand said that “As our world grows darker, with Russia’s illegal or unjustifiable invasion in Ukraine, and China’s growing behaviour in the Indo-Pacific, that project has taken on heightened significance.”
She said: “That is the moment that we need to ensure the defence of our country… including our Arctic,”.
Under the agreement with Washington and US companies Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney, the first aircraft will be delivered to Canada in 2026 and the rest of the fleet between 2032 and 2034.
Other countries, including Switzerland and Germany, have also signed contracts in recent months for the F-35 fighter jets, one of the most capable fighter aircraft.
In the past, Canada also purchased US army equipment to ensure interoperability with its NATO allies and NORAD, the North American defence organisation.
After coming to power in 2015, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had announced not to buy the F-35 jet fighter due to their high cost.
Anand said, “Canada is confident that the F-35 represents the best fighter jet for our country at the best price for Canadians.”
